minibronco
09-30-2005, 07:58 PM
NOTES
Bailey may play, stands by comments
NFL.com wire reports
DENVER (Sept. 28, 2005) -- Champ Bailey didn't apologize when he learned he made Kansas City coach Dick Vermeil mad for saying the Chiefs weren't playing hard.
Instead, Bailey insisted he'd say it again.
"I'm doing my job, doing it well," Bailey said. "I'm going to keep doing it and I'm going to talk about it."
At issue were statements Bailey made to teammates during Denver's 30-10 win over Kansas City on Sept. 26. Bailey wore a microphone during the game and some of his comments were heard on ABC.
"The way they played up there in Kansas City, it ain't the same, though," said Bailey, referring to last season's 45-17 Chiefs win. "They're playing a little different. They're not playing as hard. I ain't going to relax, though."
Bailey left Denver's win in the second quarter with a hamstring injury, which has put his availability in limbo for Denver's Oct. 2 game in Jacksonville, which would be his 100th consecutive start.
The results of the MRI exam were better than he expected.
"I don't know the complete diagnosis," Bailey said. "I just know I didn't tear anything and that was the best news possible."
It didn't look as good when he dragged down Chiefs fullback Tony Richardson for a modest gain late in the second quarter. He tried to get up, but the leg buckled under him.
"The way it felt then, I thought my leg was going to fall apart," Bailey said. "I'm fine now."
Still, the hamstring wasn't good enough to allow him to practice Sept. 28.
"I'm very optimistic I'll play," he said. "I always think I can play. I never count myself out."
On Sept. 28, Vermeil vented some frustration over Bailey's in-game comments.
"I know this -- none of our players said Champ Bailey didn't play hard when we beat them by three touchdowns last year out here," Vermeil said. "Eddie Kennison didn't say that Champ Bailey was not playing hard."
Vermeil said he has never let his players wear microphones during games because "sometimes that embarrasses the player."
If Bailey was embarrassed or upset about what he said, it sure didn't sound like it.
"I'm not going to shy away from speaking my mind," Bailey said. "I felt like I was kicking (expletive). So, I just said it."
Bailey pointed out that Vermeil pretty much agreed with what Bailey said.
"Look at his quotes. He did say they should have played harder," Bailey said.
Indeed, Vermeil said, "I think we can play better than that. I think we can play harder than that. I don't know if Champ Bailey said that to evaluate."
Broncos coach Mike Shanahan doesn't have any problems with his players being miked for games. In fact, Shanahan has been miked himself in the past.
"In the heat of battle, some things are going to be said by the coaching staff or from players," Shanahan said. "What it is is the heat of battle. That's just part of the game, and you have to live with those things."
Bailey said he would wear a microphone again if asked.
The Broncos have a rematch with the Chiefs in Kansas City on Dec. 4. Asked if he thinks the Chiefs will play harder in the next game, Bailey said he was sure they would.
"We'll be in their back yard," he said. "They won't forget what I said -- I mean, what everybody said."
PREVIEW
JACKSONVILLE (Sept. 28, 2005) -- The Denver Broncos ' defense fared pretty well in containing one of the league's most potent offenses on Monday night. This time, it's their offense that faces a big challenge as they visit the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Denver held Priest Holmes to 61 yards and stopped Kansas City's passing attack in a 30-10 victory on Monday night. Chiefs quarterback Trent Green, who threw 27 touchdown passes last season, was kept off the scoreboard until connecting with Samie Parker for a 21-yard TD with 2:12 left in the fourth quarter.
The Broncos sacked Green twice and limited backup running back Larry Johnson to 13 yards.
"The whole plan was to take away their best player," Denver linebacker Ian Gold said of Holmes. "We took away the run. It's strange to see Kansas City unable to run."
With Denver's defense turning in a dominant performance, quarterback Jake Plummer had an efficient game by going 13-of-18 for 152 yards and a TD. He also ran for a score on fourth-and-goal from the 1 to give Denver a 17-0 lead 2:42 before halftime.
"I didn't do much but just guided them down the field," Plummer said.
Plummer might need to do a little more against Jacksonville.
Akin Adoleye wrapped up the Broncos-Jaguars game last year by snatching Quentin Griffin's fumble.
The Jaguars are second in the NFL in total defense, allowing 252.7 yards per game, and are coming off a 26-20 overtime win last Sunday in which they held the New York Jets to 168 total yards.
Byron Leftwich overcame a groin injury and threw a 36-yard touchdown pass to Jimmy Smith 5:12 into overtime to give the Jaguars the win. Despite a noticeable limp when he scrambled, Leftwich finished 16-of-23 for 177 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
"These kind of games, when you pull them out, do wonders for the confidence," Jacksonville coach Jack Del Rio said. "The guys start believing and understanding that it doesn't always go exactly how you'd like to go, but you've got to find a way to scratch out a win."
Fred Taylor, who underwent knee surgery in January after missing the final two games in 2004, helped take some of the workload off Leftwich as he had a career-high 37 carries for 98 yards and a touchdown. Taylor has rushed for over 1,200 yards in each of the last three seasons.
"I'm sure every player in this league, every player that considers himself a competitor, they want the ball in crunch time. I want the ball all the time," Taylor said.
Denver could be without one of its best defenders for this game after cornerback Champ Bailey sustained a left hamstring injury against the Chiefs.
"My mind-set is taking it one day at a time," Bailey said. "That's all I can do."
STANDINGS: Broncos - 1st place (tied), AFC West. Jaguars - 2nd place, AFC South.
BRONCOS LEADERS: Offense - Plummer, 651 passing yards and 2 passing TDs; Mike Anderson, 152 rushing yards; Anderson, Plummer and Kyle Johnson, 1 rushing TD; Rod Smith, 22 receptions and 253 receiving yards; Johnson and Smith, 1 receiving TD. Defense - Six with 1 sack; Bailey, 2 INTs.
JAGUARS LEADERS: Offense - Leftwich, 627 passing yards and 4 passing TDs; Taylor, 255 rushing yards and 1 rushing TD; Reggie Williams, 13 receptions; Smith, 220 receiving yards and 3 receiving TDs. Defense - Paul Spicer, 3 sacks; Five with 1 INT.
BRONCOS TEAM RANK: Rushing Offense - 129.7 yards per game (9th in NFL); Passing Offense - 204.0 ypg (19th); Total Offense - 333.7 ypg (13th). Rushing Defense - 101.3 ypg (15th); Passing Defense - 206.7 ypg (T-13th); Total Defense - 308.0 ypg (12th).
JAGUARS TEAM RANK: Rushing Offense - 128.7 ypg (10th); Passing Offense - 195.7 ypg (23rd); Total Offense - 324.3 ypg (16th). Rushing Defense - 110.7 ypg (21st); Passing Defense - 142.0 ypg (2nd); Total Defense - 252.7 ypg (2nd).
LAST MEETING: Sept. 19, 2004; Jaguars, 7-6. At Jacksonville, Fla., Leftwich threw a 12-yard TD pass to Ernest Wilford in the second quarter, and Akin Ayodele recovered Quentin Griffin's fumble with 37 seconds left in the fourth to seal the win.
STREAKS AND NOTES: Broncos - WR Smith became the first undrafted player in NFL history to surpass 10,000 yards receiving in the win over Kansas City. He also scored his 63rd career TD, leaving him two shy of the franchise record set by Terrell Davis. ... Rookie CB Darrent Williams leads the AFC with an average of 13.3 yards on punt returns. ... QB Plummer's 96.4 passer rating versus AFC South teams is his highest against any division. Jaguars - K Josh Scobee's seven touchbacks are tied with Arizona's Neil Rackers for the most in the NFL. ... The Jaguars are 4-1 against the AFC West under Del Rio. ... Jacksonville has an INT in seven straight games, tying Dallas and Minnesota for the longest current streak in the league.
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Broncos - 0-1 on the road; Jaguars - 1-0 at home.
Bailey may play, stands by comments
NFL.com wire reports
DENVER (Sept. 28, 2005) -- Champ Bailey didn't apologize when he learned he made Kansas City coach Dick Vermeil mad for saying the Chiefs weren't playing hard.
Instead, Bailey insisted he'd say it again.
"I'm doing my job, doing it well," Bailey said. "I'm going to keep doing it and I'm going to talk about it."
At issue were statements Bailey made to teammates during Denver's 30-10 win over Kansas City on Sept. 26. Bailey wore a microphone during the game and some of his comments were heard on ABC.
"The way they played up there in Kansas City, it ain't the same, though," said Bailey, referring to last season's 45-17 Chiefs win. "They're playing a little different. They're not playing as hard. I ain't going to relax, though."
Bailey left Denver's win in the second quarter with a hamstring injury, which has put his availability in limbo for Denver's Oct. 2 game in Jacksonville, which would be his 100th consecutive start.
The results of the MRI exam were better than he expected.
"I don't know the complete diagnosis," Bailey said. "I just know I didn't tear anything and that was the best news possible."
It didn't look as good when he dragged down Chiefs fullback Tony Richardson for a modest gain late in the second quarter. He tried to get up, but the leg buckled under him.
"The way it felt then, I thought my leg was going to fall apart," Bailey said. "I'm fine now."
Still, the hamstring wasn't good enough to allow him to practice Sept. 28.
"I'm very optimistic I'll play," he said. "I always think I can play. I never count myself out."
On Sept. 28, Vermeil vented some frustration over Bailey's in-game comments.
"I know this -- none of our players said Champ Bailey didn't play hard when we beat them by three touchdowns last year out here," Vermeil said. "Eddie Kennison didn't say that Champ Bailey was not playing hard."
Vermeil said he has never let his players wear microphones during games because "sometimes that embarrasses the player."
If Bailey was embarrassed or upset about what he said, it sure didn't sound like it.
"I'm not going to shy away from speaking my mind," Bailey said. "I felt like I was kicking (expletive). So, I just said it."
Bailey pointed out that Vermeil pretty much agreed with what Bailey said.
"Look at his quotes. He did say they should have played harder," Bailey said.
Indeed, Vermeil said, "I think we can play better than that. I think we can play harder than that. I don't know if Champ Bailey said that to evaluate."
Broncos coach Mike Shanahan doesn't have any problems with his players being miked for games. In fact, Shanahan has been miked himself in the past.
"In the heat of battle, some things are going to be said by the coaching staff or from players," Shanahan said. "What it is is the heat of battle. That's just part of the game, and you have to live with those things."
Bailey said he would wear a microphone again if asked.
The Broncos have a rematch with the Chiefs in Kansas City on Dec. 4. Asked if he thinks the Chiefs will play harder in the next game, Bailey said he was sure they would.
"We'll be in their back yard," he said. "They won't forget what I said -- I mean, what everybody said."
PREVIEW
JACKSONVILLE (Sept. 28, 2005) -- The Denver Broncos ' defense fared pretty well in containing one of the league's most potent offenses on Monday night. This time, it's their offense that faces a big challenge as they visit the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Denver held Priest Holmes to 61 yards and stopped Kansas City's passing attack in a 30-10 victory on Monday night. Chiefs quarterback Trent Green, who threw 27 touchdown passes last season, was kept off the scoreboard until connecting with Samie Parker for a 21-yard TD with 2:12 left in the fourth quarter.
The Broncos sacked Green twice and limited backup running back Larry Johnson to 13 yards.
"The whole plan was to take away their best player," Denver linebacker Ian Gold said of Holmes. "We took away the run. It's strange to see Kansas City unable to run."
With Denver's defense turning in a dominant performance, quarterback Jake Plummer had an efficient game by going 13-of-18 for 152 yards and a TD. He also ran for a score on fourth-and-goal from the 1 to give Denver a 17-0 lead 2:42 before halftime.
"I didn't do much but just guided them down the field," Plummer said.
Plummer might need to do a little more against Jacksonville.
Akin Adoleye wrapped up the Broncos-Jaguars game last year by snatching Quentin Griffin's fumble.
The Jaguars are second in the NFL in total defense, allowing 252.7 yards per game, and are coming off a 26-20 overtime win last Sunday in which they held the New York Jets to 168 total yards.
Byron Leftwich overcame a groin injury and threw a 36-yard touchdown pass to Jimmy Smith 5:12 into overtime to give the Jaguars the win. Despite a noticeable limp when he scrambled, Leftwich finished 16-of-23 for 177 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
"These kind of games, when you pull them out, do wonders for the confidence," Jacksonville coach Jack Del Rio said. "The guys start believing and understanding that it doesn't always go exactly how you'd like to go, but you've got to find a way to scratch out a win."
Fred Taylor, who underwent knee surgery in January after missing the final two games in 2004, helped take some of the workload off Leftwich as he had a career-high 37 carries for 98 yards and a touchdown. Taylor has rushed for over 1,200 yards in each of the last three seasons.
"I'm sure every player in this league, every player that considers himself a competitor, they want the ball in crunch time. I want the ball all the time," Taylor said.
Denver could be without one of its best defenders for this game after cornerback Champ Bailey sustained a left hamstring injury against the Chiefs.
"My mind-set is taking it one day at a time," Bailey said. "That's all I can do."
STANDINGS: Broncos - 1st place (tied), AFC West. Jaguars - 2nd place, AFC South.
BRONCOS LEADERS: Offense - Plummer, 651 passing yards and 2 passing TDs; Mike Anderson, 152 rushing yards; Anderson, Plummer and Kyle Johnson, 1 rushing TD; Rod Smith, 22 receptions and 253 receiving yards; Johnson and Smith, 1 receiving TD. Defense - Six with 1 sack; Bailey, 2 INTs.
JAGUARS LEADERS: Offense - Leftwich, 627 passing yards and 4 passing TDs; Taylor, 255 rushing yards and 1 rushing TD; Reggie Williams, 13 receptions; Smith, 220 receiving yards and 3 receiving TDs. Defense - Paul Spicer, 3 sacks; Five with 1 INT.
BRONCOS TEAM RANK: Rushing Offense - 129.7 yards per game (9th in NFL); Passing Offense - 204.0 ypg (19th); Total Offense - 333.7 ypg (13th). Rushing Defense - 101.3 ypg (15th); Passing Defense - 206.7 ypg (T-13th); Total Defense - 308.0 ypg (12th).
JAGUARS TEAM RANK: Rushing Offense - 128.7 ypg (10th); Passing Offense - 195.7 ypg (23rd); Total Offense - 324.3 ypg (16th). Rushing Defense - 110.7 ypg (21st); Passing Defense - 142.0 ypg (2nd); Total Defense - 252.7 ypg (2nd).
LAST MEETING: Sept. 19, 2004; Jaguars, 7-6. At Jacksonville, Fla., Leftwich threw a 12-yard TD pass to Ernest Wilford in the second quarter, and Akin Ayodele recovered Quentin Griffin's fumble with 37 seconds left in the fourth to seal the win.
STREAKS AND NOTES: Broncos - WR Smith became the first undrafted player in NFL history to surpass 10,000 yards receiving in the win over Kansas City. He also scored his 63rd career TD, leaving him two shy of the franchise record set by Terrell Davis. ... Rookie CB Darrent Williams leads the AFC with an average of 13.3 yards on punt returns. ... QB Plummer's 96.4 passer rating versus AFC South teams is his highest against any division. Jaguars - K Josh Scobee's seven touchbacks are tied with Arizona's Neil Rackers for the most in the NFL. ... The Jaguars are 4-1 against the AFC West under Del Rio. ... Jacksonville has an INT in seven straight games, tying Dallas and Minnesota for the longest current streak in the league.
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Broncos - 0-1 on the road; Jaguars - 1-0 at home.